Traffic-recording equipment for telephone systems



July 10,1928. 1,676,742

J. E. OSTLINE TRAFFIC RECORDING EQUIPMENT FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Filed July 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l v; n 5 k July 10, 1928. 1,676,742

' J. E. OSTLINE TRAFFIC RECORDING EQUIPMENT FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Fl (3. J 12 1924 Sheets-Sheet 2 l e L1H] T I Invznlur Jul-m E. [IE-[ZINE l I W1"- Patented July is, teas.

ijhliitiw stars-s air;

JOE-ENE. OSTLINE, orravnnroon, al enating-residues,izvuvinsnn AssIlGnMEN'rs, to

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC me, or. or-rzcaeo, ILLINOIS, A'COBPORATIQN. 10F DELA WARE.

rnArrrc-nnoonnine' EQUIPMENT FOR TELEPHONE sYsrEMs Thepresent invention relates in general .to train recording equipment "for telephone systems, and'among the particular objects of'the invention is to provide means for registering at regular intervals. thefbusy "trunks of a group with which the equipment is associated, and in addition, recording the particular number of each busy trunk in the group. This'is of great value in determining it the group is properly distributed.

Another feature has to do with the pro vision of a novel timing device for determining the time interval betweeneach registration, the particular time interval selected being determined by the frequency} at which the readings are desired. 7 @ther features of the equipment not men tioned abo o will be fully brought out in the description whichisto follow.

The drawings comprising Figs. 1 and 2, when Fig. 1 is placed immediately above Fig. 2, show sufficient of the recording equipment to make clear the invention when.

referred to in conjunction with the accom- .Reterring now particularly often used as line switches in automatic telephone systems. The main function of the trunktesting switch TTS, as its name;

implies, is to test the'trunks. In the present system, it has been found convenient to allot only twelve of the bank contacts of. this switch for trunk testing purposes, and

in order to make this switch capable of test-, ing more than twelve trunks switching means comprising group relays have been. provided for switching the conductors GX-' tending from the bank contact of switch TTS into connection with any one of a num her of trunk groups of twelve trunks each. The majorfunction of the group selecting switch GSS, therefore isto select, and cause the operation oi,-the various group relays at the time at which their associated group of trunks is to be tested. In usingthe usual twenty-five bank contact type of switch. it

is found convenient to utilize onlytwclve hank contacts for controlling the group relays and thereforethe recording equipment is adapted to handle up to twelvegroups of twelve trunks each. or a maximum of 1,44:

trunks.

. Application filed July 12,

- second intervals.

1924. seriai No. 725.539.

The .various relays and keys which are diagrammatically shown are of the ordinary type'used in telephone systems, andtheir function and operation will befdescribed hereinafter. Y

For each of the twelve subgroups of trunks aterminal blockis provided where the private conductor of each of twelve trunks, on which traflic is "to be erecorded,

Referring .to F 2, this figure showsa timing device comprising switches T and T wlnch are mechanicallythe same as the] switches shown in Fig. 1. The. timing device P consists of a relay with .a weighted pendulum, with the weight so adjusted that I it operates to transmit impulses at one-half These impulses are. effective to operate switch T, and switch T through themedium of switch T, the switch e,, l in turn transmitting battery. pulses out over conductor 91 at intervals dependent on which combined time control and start key, K-l, K2, K5, and K-.10, has been operated. i Y

In the upper,part'of FigIQisdia-gr-ammatically shown a pen register which may-v ,be otany well known type, provided with a pair' of electromagnetically operated pens adapted to makelike markings on a moving tape. v r

The timing apparatus and all (equipment shown in Fig. 1 islocated in the same office, while the pen register maybe located inthe sameoffiee or in a centr-allylocated .ofiice as desired. I

The timing equipment :is arranged ywith ank contacts of. switch T multipled so that,-depending on the key thrown, it transmits impulses to conductor 91 at one, two, five, and ten minute intervals. In orderto secin'ethcse results theswitch T. must take five steps per-minute. The operating conductor of magnet 74 of switch .T extends v'toonly one bank contact of switch Tand' it is, therefore, necessarythat wiper 65 0t switch T engages this bank contact tocomplots the circuit, of magnet 7.4 once every twelve seconds. In other'words, it is necessary to movewiper 7,5 five steps per minute.

Now if the switch T makes one half revolu Hooper twenty-tour impulses, every twelve seconds, will be evident that magnet 74 will be operated once every twelv seconds.

{Ahstandard*switchsuch as T, however, is

tion', twenty-five steps, every twelve seconds.

. magnet of the switch per minute.

net an impulse is f provided withtwenty-five contacts and only makes a half revolution every twenty-five steps. Nowin order to be able to use this switch, and stillaccurately operate, switch T once. every twelve seconds, an auxlhary operating circuit for magnet- 64% of switch 'T provided extending through a pair of interrupter contacts on magnet 64 f switch T. When'the Wiper 65 of switch T 'engages its twenty-fifth contact it is immediately stepped on to its first contact between pulses producedby time device P, and therefore moves its wipers the required half revolu- Now taking Figs. 1 and2 together, the operation. of the system as a wholewill be described. For this purpose, it will first {be assumed that reading is desired on the condition of the trunks of all twelve groups at this time,and that readings desired at one: minute" intervals The attendant therefore operatesthe' combined start and time nterval key K-1., New one-half sec-V end after the w1per65 arrives at its sixth bank contact/an impulse is transmitted for operating the motor magnet 6 L of the swltch .T' to move itswiper to the seventh bank contact. This'impulse also causesthe motor to be operated via wiper 65 and its sixth bank contact. Since the sixth bank contact of the switch T is the only, one having a conductor extending to the motor magnet of the switch T, it

will be apparent "that the motor magnet of the switch T will be operated but twice per revolution of the wiper 65 of the switch T which makes two and one-half revolutions v The wipers 75 and 85 are advanced one step by'thefirst operation and release ofthe motor magnet 74, and upon the second energization of this motor magtransmitted to the start relay 10 of the recording equipment. This circuit extends from battery, contacts Glof motor magnet 74, wiper 85 now positioned on ts first bank contact, lower contacts of key K-1, conductor 91, winding of relay 1(),

back contact and armature of relay 90, pen

' register magnet 62 to battery. The re sistance of relay 10 is very high compared ..to that of magnet'62 and, therefore, only relay 10 operates at this time.

Relay: 10, upon. operating, completes a circuit for the lower winding of relay .20. RelayEZO, upon operating, at'its armature 21 completes a locking circuit for itself through its upper winding, at its armature 22' removes ground from the first twelve private bank contacts over which the wiper of the group select .ing switch GSS moves, and at its armatures 23 and 24 prepares operating;circuits. for relays and 30 Since the circuit for relay 10 was only completed during. the

momentary energization of the motor magnet. of switch T this relay. almost imme diately falls back, and at its armature and back contact now completesa circuit for relays 30 and 30 Thecircuit for relay 30 extends fromgrounded conductor 25, front contact and armature 23, first bank contact of trunk testing switch TSS, wiper 4E5, armacure/('1 and its back contact, and the winding of relay 30 to battery. The circuit for relay 30 may be traced from grounded conductor 25, front contact of'armature 24:

and the said armature, wiper 5 positionedon its first bank contact, conductorQG, and

the winding of relay 30 to battery. Relay 30 in operating connects upthe first twelve Relayot the group of trunks to be tested...

30, upon operating, at itsarmature 33-,closes a point in the operating circuit of relayQO, and at its armatures 31 and 32 completes circuits for the relay 40'and motor magnet 40',

respectively, the circuit for relay 40 extending from grounded armature of relay 80 and its back contact, conductor 56, bank contact of switch TTS, wiper 55, front con tactand armature 31, and the winding of relay 4-0 to battery The circuit for magnet L01 extends from ground at lower back contact of relay 10, front contact 23. first'bank upon restoring, at'its armature 33'opens a circuit extending over the 1 Relay 30,

point in the operating circuit of the'relay-v 90, at its armature 31. opens the'operating CllClllt Oli relay 4:0, and at its armature 32 opens the c rcuitextending through motor magnet 40. Relay 40, upon restoring,

. opens the circuit of the pen register magnet 60, which thereupon removes its recording pen from engagement with the moving tape.

Motorf'magnet 40'. upon restoring, moves its wipers 35,415 and forward one step, and.

at its contacts 41 opens the circuit of relay 70. As soon as the wiper 35 engages its second bank contact a circuit is completed for relay 80, this circuit extending from the grounded conductor 25, front contact and armature 24. of start relay 20, wiper 35 and its associated second bank contact, first bank winding of relay 80 to battery. "Relay 80, upon energizing, removes grount from the previously (flQi-BCTlllQtl circuit for relay 4-0 and V ,125 contact of the bank associated with wiper y, 25' of switch GSS', Wiper 25, andv the lower em-ms V elayf 'myupon deen'ergizing; at its arm-a ture' 7l-againcompletes a circuitfor rcl aiy '30 over the previously described patheXcep't that ground is supplied loy the permanently grounded ,bank contact associated with .\vipe1 45. Relay therefore again operates this time, since tlierel'aycSO is energized, relay 30 does not close an operating circuit for the pen register control relay at its armature 31 as it did in the previous case, but at armature 32 it again closes a circuit for -motor magnet 40 which,"upon energizing, again completes a circuit-for relay 70,"the relay 70 in turnopening the circuit tor relay 30 and relay 3O inmturn restoring to open the circuit of magnet 40 which. upon restoring, moves its associated wipc'rsf into. engagement with their third balnlr conta'cts. The magnet 40, upon deenergizing, also again'opens the circuit of relay 70. which, u 'i'onrestoring; again complete's a ci'rc-uitfOr relay 30 this timevia thethirdbank contact and wiper 4.5. Since the second to twenty fifth' loank contacts associated with wiper are all grounded, relay :30, motor magnet 40 and relay 70 operate repeatedly in theab'ove' described order as long as wiper l5'engages grounded b'ankicontacts. As soon as wiper 35 arrives atfits. thirteenth bankcontact, a circuit is completed for pen register control relay 90,

this circuit extending from the grounded.

.switch TTSL' WViper5, uponengagingx it's [second Vbank'co'ntact completes a circuit for the"secondfgroupfrelay'30 whiclr operates'to connect thesecond group {oftwelve trunks with the bank contacts} of fswitch" TTS-..

conductor 25, front contact and armature 24, wiper B5 and its thirteenth bank contact, armature 33 and its front contact, and the winding of relay 90 to battery. Relay'90, upon operating, completes a circuit for pen register magnet 62.] Sincehank contacts thirteen to twenty-four, inclusive, associated with wiper- 35 are all connected in common, it will be evident that during the next thirteenth to twentyiourth steps ofs'witch TTS that the pen register magnet" (SQwill he oper-' ated twelve times. causing twelve like markings to be reproduced on the pen register tape. The thirteenth to twenty-fourth bank contacts associated with wiper '55 are at this time connected to the first group of twelve trunks viacon tacts or grouprelay 80"and the terminal lolock G and therefore, as the wiper moves over its thirteenth to twenty fourth bank contacts completes a circuit for pen register control relay 40 each time a lousy trunk is engaged, the busy condition of a trunk being indicated by aground po= tential. The circuit forrelay 40 extends from one of the-grounded bank contactsy wiper 55, front contact and armature 31, and the winding of relay 40 1to battery. Each time relay 4O energizes'it completes a circuitfol-the pen register magnet which causes a registration to be made on the pen register tape. p

Referring now to the pen register tape,

the registration 'indicated atthe ertreme left} and brought about bythe' o'pera-tion of-"pen" register magnet 60 prior to any registrations on the lo'wer'h'alf of thejtape,indieates the' group beingtested which "in thiscase is' group 1. Since'a-mark is made on the lower 1 halt'o't the tape only each timej'a trunk is being tested it scrves-toenablethe number of the trunks whichfwere lousy "during thetesting "operation of agroup to" be readily identified'fl According to the markings on .7

the tape shown trunks 2,5 and 11 were the only ones'husy during the first test. a 1

system, wiper"35", upon engaging-its twentyfi'fth loank' contact,comple tes a clrcuit'for the motor magnet .66 of the'groupselecting switch GSS, this circuit extending by way of grounded conductor 25, front contacta nd' armature 24,-wiper 35 and its twenty-fifth 'loankcontact, conductor'36, and the winding of the'motor magnet 66*to'a'loattery. Motor magnet 66, upon energizing," opens its inter-'- rupter fcontacts which arefwithout effect-at this time! *Assoonjas Wiper35 or the switch" TTS advances to its :'norm;al- 'po'sitionas 1 shown in the drawing, magneti-66 deen'er3 gi'zes and in sodoing advances-its wipers; 'l5fand'25/ one step. Wiper 5 upon disen-wgaging itself from-fits first bank contact breaks the circuit ofgrouprelay iiO which relay restores, "disco'nn'ecting the first group of twelve trunks" from assoc1at1en -gwith lViper 35 of switch TTS; upon engaging its normal 'or first loa'nk contact; shunts hattery An instant later; following-the deen'ergizationof relay 705 "relay 30'energizes and again Continumg now with the operation of thev I from the holding "winding of relay "-80, and

'completesia' icircuit for pen registercontrolv relay 40, this circuit extending from the groundedarmaturc of'relay'8O and itsresting contact, conductor '56, bank contact of wiper 55," front contact and armature 31, and the winding ,of relay"40 to battery.- Relay 40, upon operating; completes a circuit for the pen register control magnet 60. Wiper55 in passing from itsfirst contact to I its second contact opens and againcloses the aboye'described circuit for the relay 40. As

the'wiper 55 movestrom its second to its third bank Contact itagain opens this circuit', but due to' a'circuit' completed for re lay 80, when wiper 35 reaches its third loank contact and before the energization. of relay 30, relay 40 is not operated at'thistime.

The operating circuit for relay 80 may he traced-from the grounded conductor 25 front contact-aiirlai'inature WIPCJ 35 and its V 80 to battery. Relay, 80, uponv third bank contact, the second bank contact and wiper and the winding of the relay operating, locks itself upover its upperwinding and fat the; same time disconnects ground from -cond.uctor .56. It will be evident that no furtheroperations of relay will take placev until wiper engages'busy trunks ofthe As soon as wipers 55 group, being tested. and 35 arrive at their the operation of relay thirteenth bank contact 40 v and relay 90. will take place in the previously described mannor to control pen register .62.;

operations which take place magnets and testing ofthe twelfth group, a description of where wiper. 35 off the switch TTS from its twentyrtourth. to its twentyefirth operate as tact,

the operation otte'sting twelve, inclusive, will be unnecessary.

the point of the switch-GSS,

therefore switch TTS ling keys'havebeen provided which being then were be groups three, to

Taking up the operation at i sh ed bank contact, at which time wipers and 25 of the switch.

completes-a circuit-for the motor magnet. 66 and as soon as "this wiper stepsto its normal position this circuit is broken 'and motor magnet'66 causes the wipers of theswitchGSS to advance one step. Since bank contacts thirteen to twenty 3 five afssociatedwith wipenlfi are 'inultipled together and grounded, magnet 66 will now a buzzer and and25 to theirv normal position as shown, Wiper 5. upon arrivingupon its thirteenth bank contact shunts battery from the holdingeircuit oi startrelay 20, causing this re- Now when wiper 45; engages its normal e0nground potential having been removed therefrom by the deonergization of relay 20,

.relay 30: will not be again operated and will remain in its nor 'inal position until relay 20 is again energized responsive to-a second impulse from th time mechanism. lVhenthi-s occurs the entire above operations will again take place. In the abo've description it was assumed that there were twelve trunks each, and that it was desired to test all groups. In certain cases there .may be less than 1.44 trunks, or itjmay be desirable that only a certain portion ojt 14A trunks be tested. "For this reason anumber ofcontrol enable an attendant to cut out any group control relays not to be used, the remaining groups tested repeatedly in the same manner as if the entire grouper 144; trunks tested It assumed that there n 211? tru les and never will GSS will be positioned "on.

their twelfth bank contacts, the-,wiper 35,

upon'reaohin'g its twenty-firth bank contact,

' equipment through trunk testing the operation ofa start and time key that rotatewipers 5, 15;

groups of twelve at one time and for. this reason no provision- Assuming that there are five groups of twelve-f is made for testing less than 24 trunks.

trunks each, theattendant operates key f other impulse is received vfrom the timing mechanism. The relay 2Q. upon deenerg1Z- mg, this time also applies ground to: the first twelve bank contacts associated with wiper lfi ca ising the switch GSS torotatef'to normal. From this it will be evident that; a

group containing from 24: to 144 trunks may be tested periodically as'required.

By prov ding the fifth group has been tested extends to the thircontact associated with wiper 5, into connection, with the sixth bank coni to prevent further op ClZLtlOll of the trunk testin switch until an- 7 various start keys K- -l, V

li t K -v5 and 15-10, the frequency of testing the trunk desired.

group may be varied as It will be noted that pen register equipment is connected with'the observing the medium of a jack, andit will be recalled that in starting the equipment j in. operation. 1 by this start circuit included the winding of one this pen other equipment and start key may be operated without starting it will be evident that if desiredthc or the pen register magnets. From J loo register may be disconnected from the acombined time and any of the switching mechanism-of the recordingv equipment. register be plugged in to connection withthe recording equipment, 7 start relay will be completed and the recordingequipment will function the same as ii" started by operationof one of the start keys.

Now. since only two conductors are required to connect the recording equipment with the pen register, it will beevident that if desired each of a large number of offices may be equipped. with the recording equipment shown, each. having a two-conductor triink extending to a centralized point, in which case each of the jacks will be brought out on a common panel where it will be con- 'Now, should 3 the pen the 1 circuit for the equipmentof' any o'tlice in which it isde-' sired that a record be'takon. 'Under these conditions it would be the practice to leave one ofthe combined cut-in and. time control keys operated at all times. If at any time it should be desirable to'change the frewould onlybe nee it the central co to essary r traific conditions communicate With I an attendant f such and idlecondition of the lines in the various ogice Who would then make the desired groups, and means 'f roperating-the other cange. 7 I Ajlead 'IOO-cOnne'cted to two bank contacts' of switch T is, also provided to permit the operation of an electric c1ock iffdesired.-

From thealoove itvivill be readily seen that a applicant hasinvented a traffic recording a eating the. numbers of-tlie lines inthe various groups lrrespectlve of their busy oridle icondition. I

WVhat is claimedeisr v l l 7 Lin a telephone systemg groupsof trunk 'and the linenumloer of each tested line. I

- .,lines, a trunk testing switch'commoi'i to {said 7. A 'trafiic recorder for recording trafiic Jagroups, vmeans for" associating-said groups conditions ,in' telephone" lines comprising-a i-th id it' h i a dgfiniteorderandfor recording device and atesting device, a time causingsaid switch jtofdetermine the {busy ing- 'devicef for oridle condition of-each trunk of a icon- I in either small orlarge'systems'.

group testing. operation for making two sep- I I I I I I ;araterecords indlca'tlng the numberofthe e tlngjs d mg'de t l 'g .gr p t t d and th ndimdual numb rs of dev ce and for d sconnecting saidrecording -the bu gy trunk in th test d group, r device fromfsaid testing device, andmeans tively. I I 4 for preventingthe operation of said testing 2 I In a telephone system, groups of trunk device 1n case said I'BCOIClII IgRdQVICG 18 6118,-

,qlines, means 'for peri0dically determining -Qll l tedpen of s'aid recorder :to make a record indi I sending spaced momentaryimpulses, said testing device being respon v nected group, and means responsive toeach si ve to each of said impulses'to test said lines,.- manually operable switching means for con-.

*6. In a telephone system, groups of lines, recordingrlwic; means for testing 'said system which is very simple and positive "lines, and 'meansfor causing said recording in operation,, and which is practical for'fuse dfevice'to automatically make-two records *on separate portions of said recordingdevice indicating respectively the group number s thebusy or idle condition of all trunks in f8. In,a traflic recorder-"for recording the v groups, in a definite group and trunk tt' QI d l OIlS existing in 'groupeditele- ,order, and means. for making two separate ,phQne hD 'set oftest conductors common ne rd ti g the i mb rs 1 1apl l tyro -er i aes groups tested and the individual numbers. meansjfor testing said-test "conductors sucti l I f I 7 II j 1ng sa1d test conductors-Withthefgrou s'of 3-1111 i m QIBCQIder for recor'ding lines successively; f I I 1 I a I existing in grouped $1 9. a t 1 'a'fli c recorderforrecordingtraffic (phone lines, means sfontesting said lines suc- Jl ldltlgns njgro'upecl telepl ione lines-, means ce ssively, .,aemoving tape,' and Imeans re- 3 ,01 test ng said groups of-l-ines success vely,

.asponsivetto said testing -fmeans for making jand 'mea'ns eifective immediately' tof'the gtwo records on isaid tape from one fwh i h test ng of any groupfor makrng arecord; a i ecprds,the numbers of the groups under catmg. h

I I number offthe gronpzabout {E Q;mfly b@cleter ined;and fromthe otnerito'beites ed.

' of which-the lineqnumher-of each busy: line I. I I I I, I I I b d t i d I I jcording the traflic conditions m -grou'ped tele- In a traffic recording device for recordj lPhQQQl JQ Ig lQv of t s 1 9 1 0 09 5wing the trafiic conditions in ,grouped telemonto a plurality of groups 'of l1nes,f 1neans rue -phonelin es, means for; testing said linesjo'ne' for connecting said test coiiductorfs"{to any -at. a time to determine the bnsytor idleconlig j p ofl l a te St sWItch;'me'ans forad- 1 ditionlof each line, a novingctape record ng vancing sa d sw1tclrj step-by-step irom 1 a deyice, said. deviceineludingmeansformakg ven. .pos t l p elimina y to est ng the ,5 ing indications on said tapenwhereby, the conneiited group offlinesgtlirough"themedium I busy or idle condition; of the res1')ective tested Of ls id li f nonp e t'cndlid g and means li b d te mj d, th b i ,1 e a-. ,c.ontro1led hy sa d sw tch when operated in ratei spaced portions of thetape forleach .its plfieliminjary movementto nake' arecord group and means-for recording on the tape lnldlcatlng the nmnbe'rpf the 111'S t 21,11'[1-COI1 v i In. itr cordi g, system-for "re 1 55:.iindic'ations of the'numbers of gthe respective njctedgrorip o'fjlines;

:groups -in the spaceson ithe tapeabetween {the said separate spaced portions. cording the traffic conditions in grouped't'ele 5.; In atraflic-recording device for record-. phonelines, a groupoftest.c o'n'ductorscom- I Qing the traffic conditionsexistingin grouped; montq aplurality offgroups of lines, means telephone lines, said recording devicewinc lud- .for connecting ,said test conductors to any ing a double pen movingtzipe recorder, gifoup oflinesi a test switfih, meansfo'radv means'for-testing-said lines successively. one. va'ncing said switch step-by st'e'p [from v a at a time means' for operating the firstypen givenlposition'preliminarily to testing the dot-the recorder to .make] a record indicatmga connected, group of hnesthrough the med um 55 the group numbers and indicatingithe busy, ,of saidflcommon test conductors, means controiledby said switch when operated in its preliminary movement to make a record in- ]dicatingthe number of the instant connected group o t' lines, means for continuing the advance ofsaid testing switch after sa d recording operation has been: completed. and

until the first of said test conductors is en? countered, and forthenadvancmg said test switch over; said test conductors to test the individual lines in the connected group.

i 12. A tratiic recording device for record ring trafiic conditions in ili nes comprising a testing switch and a group selecting swltch, means Ior operating said testing switch over andv over to test said 7 groupssuccessively, means for operating said 7 group I normal position and testing swltch'ln its normal position,

, until all of the conductors selecting switch step-by-step to associate said groupssuccessively with said testing switch, and means effective after a portion of said groups have been tested and prior to the testing of the remaining groups for automatically advancing said group 1 selecting switch the remaining distance to its for stopping said trunk 13. In an apparatus for testing the condition i of each of a number of conductors,

7 means elfective when the apparatus has been started to continue the operation 'ofthe same have been tested,

means etfectiveupon the termination of the testljon the last conductor to be tested for 'stoppingthe apparatus, means for periodically restarting said apparatus, a; plural ty of keys for controlling the intervalbetween the periods, and circuit arrangements controlled. by anyone otsaid keys for initially starting saidiapparatus,

7 14;. In combination with a testingappa- "ratus for testingithe condition of each 'ot'a lnumberflof conductors, a unitary "recording apparatus controlled by the testing appa- .ratus, means including a .manually -of erable SWltOh fOr readily connecting and isconnecti-ng said recording apparatus from said 7 testing apparatus, and means controlled by Qdtesti'ng apparatus into operation.

the recording apparatus, .1 for starting said H 15. In combination with a testing apparatus for testing the condition: of each' iof a number. of conductors a unitary recording iapparatus. controlled byQthe testing appa- .ratus and readily disconnectabl'e' therefrom,

a-timing apparatus, :noned bythe timin apparatus and" the re- .d cording apparatus apparatus into operation, b

V ith'an apparatus for successivelytestingthe condition of each of a number. of grouped conductors, ing device, and means controlled by the test and means ointly con- 7 or starting said testing 16. 11'1 combination w a recordi ing apparatus for operating the recording device to make alternately records from one of which the number of the group tested and from the other of which the condition of the grouped telephone i individual conductors in the; group b6 determined. a

17. In combination with apparatus for successively testing the condition of each of l a number'fot grouped conductors, a recording device, and means controlledbythe testing apparatus for making" indications on tiliii'crent, portions oi the recording device,

"'whereby th in the group may be determined.

groupso'j conductors,

number of the group tested and I the conditio'ii of the indiv dual conductors" a recorder; and 7 means for associating" said groups 18. In combination Wltlif s un-na oi" an apparatus for test- ,o mg and recordingthe condition Oi the Huh 1 with said switch ina definitexorder, and 7 means i each group rot; trunks associated with *said j switch, one lot said tests' determining the group of trunks associated with said switch,

and said other tests determining the' busyor idle conditionofeachjtrunk in an associated roupr'i r i V 20. arr-apparatus for testingthe 'condi-Y tions existing in grouped telephone lines, a set of testconductors" common to a' plurality for connecting said test conductors with the i1'nes'of-d1fierent groupssuccessively:"-1

21. Infa traffic testing'devicefor the conditions in grouped telephone lines,-

means for testingsaid'groupsot lines successi'velyj and" 'me ans effective during the v nterval betweenthe testing of the lines of i successive groups for testing 'to determine the numbe of' ne of said last mentioned successive groups.

traflic' conditions in" grouped telephone lines, means'for testing lsai'd groups of-lines successively, and ineans effective immediately prior to the testing of :thelines ofany rou 01. lines for determining the number ot-the. group'aboutItobe-tested; 5' j' "23. In a system for testing the individual conductorsin a plurality of groups 'otcon ductors, a group of test conductors common;

to aplurality of groups of conductors to be tested, means for connecting said test con-i testing or making two successive tests for oflines, testing, means forf'testing said con- 'duc'tors successively, and "connecting means: 105

a V. 22."In a traffictitest ngdevice for test ng ductors to "any group of conductors to be tested, a test switch, means for advancing said switch step by step'from a given en-.-

tion preliminary to testing the connected group of conductors through the mediumoit said common test conductors, and means controlled by said switch when operatedin its preliminary movement for testing to determine the instant group of lines connected with said common test conductors. 24. In a system for testing the individual conductors in a plurality of groups of conductors, a group of test conductors common to a plurality of groups of conductors to be tested, means for connecting said test conductors to any group of conductors to be tested, a test switch, means for advancing said switch step by step from a given position preliminary to testin the connected group of conductors through the medium of said common test condiictors,- means controlled by said switch when operated in its preliminary movement for testing to determine the instant group of lines connected with said common test conductors, means for continuing the advance of said testing switch after said group testing operation has been completed until the first of said test conductorsis encountered and forthen advancing said test switch over said test conductors to test the individual lines in the connected group of lines.

25. In combination with an apparatus for successively testing the condltion of each of v a number of grouped conductors, means for associating successive groups of conductors I with said apparatus, and means for succes-' sively testing for the numbers of the groups connected with and the condition of the individiial conductors in the group.-

26. .In comb nation with a plurality of device for successively associating the con-- d ictors of different groups with said means,

group testing'means for determining Which of the groups of conductors is associated" with the conductor testing means, and means for operating said first named means and said second named means alternately.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of June, A. D;, 1924.

JOHN E. OSTLINEQ 

